After several months off “work” and mostly “off-line”, I am home! And it feels good to sleep in my own bed, bathe in my own bath, have a toilet that flushes, AND have a washing machine 🙂 Oh the things we take for granted!

I was off creating memories for my four year old who is starting school full-time next year. We ventured all the way across Oz to Broome where we felt our feet upon the red dust of The Kimberly (my ancestral home)….then up to Darwin where I first felt her flutter in my womb….then north east to Kuranda near Cairns to run a medicine drum making workshop. I suspect we travelled 20,000 km!

Travelling over the Winter months and thus missing out on the opportunity to hibernate and rest, was challenging at times. There were many moments when I wanted to snuggle under the duvet and watch a video, but instead found myself in the harsh West Australian sun! (I know! “Poor me”!!) So to compensate, this Spring will have an element of hibernation for me, whilst we transition back to life on the East Coast, in a house with 4 walls and a roof LOL. I am being super gentle with myself as I integrate that Super Moon…some past life insights….and also wisdom gained in Sacred Circle with Blessed siStars and brothers. Big times!

I am pleased to say that my daughter grew in so many ways whilst we explored our amazing country. She learned about all sorts of animals, ate bush tucker on Country, developed a love for mud pies, and co-created priceless family memories. Here are a few of the hundreds of photographs I took on walkabout. I hope you enjoy them.

I am delighted to announce our medicine drum making workshop here on The Central Coast.

The foundation of the workshop and the drum making process revolves around exploring, unpacking, and understanding your own birth. My teacher, Jane Hardwick Collings suggests that by revisiting our birth (our first rite of passage) we can better approach, understand, and process other rites of passage…such as birthing our babies. (Even if you have birthed once already, every subsequent birth matters!) My own journey making my own drum has definitely had a huge impact on my life, and deepened my understanding of my Self. I won’t birth a baby again, but I birth projects regularly!

So if you live within an easy drive from the Central Coast, jump on line and grab yourself a ticket. The session is limited to 8.

I am pleased to announce and present The Central Coast End of Life Collectives calendar of events for 2015-2016.

Our events are open to everyone, irrespective of health status, religious or spiritual views, or any other “box” society can file us into! We do try to keep our events free from debate about religious views, however, with the preference of focussing more on how to live more fully as we make our way, either swiftly or seemingly slowly, to the metaphorical finish line.

We really do hope you can join us. If you’ve not been along before, please bring a friend or just come along – we are a welcoming bunch!

We have tried to vary the type, location and times of events, in the hope that there’s ‘something for everyone’.

I’m pleased to announce that on Saturday 30th May, I will be running my much loved Menarche Healing Workshop in Upper Lansdowne. Not sure where that is? It’s near Taree, Port Macquarie, and Wingham.

Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/menarche-first-blood-healing-workshop-tickets-16812874761

And the flyer is here 🙂

When I ran this workshop at Regrowth Festival recently, the 34 women attending had quite profound experiences. Here’s what they had to say afterwards:

So if you live in the Upper Lansdowne area, or know someone who does, you may like to come along and also share this page with them. Whilst we may not feel “scarred” by our menarche experience, we may also not feel fully empowered. Attending this workshop provides an opportunity to reclaim your menarche and re-write your script about what it means to be a full-power, anything’s possible, woman!

I have been asked by the ABC to share this information about their awesome project.

As one year finishes and another begins, it’s time to remember and pay tribute the people in our lives who died in 2014.

ABC Open invites ABC audiences to submit a photo and story of a person who has died in 2014 to In Memory Of. It could be a photograph of a moment shared together, or that reminds you about a particular personality trait or story about your friend or loved one.

Lives are made up of thousands of little moments. Tributes to In Memory Of need not be a list of achievements. Choose one story or moment to write about – it could be your favourite memory or the one that makes you laugh. Keep your story to 300 words or less.

Anyone can contribute a memory. The person you are writing about does not have to be a public person and you don’t need to have a professional photo to submit a memory.

ABC News Online will be collating the stories into an interactive timeline as part of their end of year news output, reflecting on the year that was.

I will then, by return email or text, send you bank details for you to make an electronic funds transfer for your order. Alternatively I can issue a PayPal invoice, but a small surcharge will apply for this service. (Note: I do not have online payment processing on this site due to trying to keep costs down, which keeps costs to a minimum for my customers – i.e. YOU!!)

This will likely be the final Death Cafe/deathie update for the year. Can you believe it’s nearly 2014??!!!

1. December Death Cafe

Thanks to all who attended the December Death Cafe on 10th Dec. As planned we talked about “surviving celebrations when bereaved”, incorporating a little more ceremony and ritual, as has been requested on the evaluation sheets. FYI one of the people I listed on our dedication, offering guidance for his smooth transition to the Other Side died on Fri 13th Dec – 3 days after our gathering. The funeral is tomorrow. His family were blown away by our holding him in our thoughts at the Cafe. A special thanks to those who brought some new friends along – this is great to see.

2. January Death Cafe

Come along for the usual deathie conversations over scrummy homemade dinner and cakes. We’ll be showing the awesome film “My Life Without Me” so bring some tissues (I sobbed my way through it the first time I saw it!!!). The film will be followed by a discussion relating back to key elements/issues raised in the film.

The Circle of Life, 8 Henry Parry Drive East Gosford. Please enter via side exit to your right as you are facing the front door.

6pm for a 6.30pm sharp start…till 9.30pm.

RSVP if you can, but it’s also OK to show up on the night if you fancy it but haven’t RSVPd.

Please forward to friends and if you can, bring someone along who has not been before. Oh, and bring a cushion or fold-up chair if you can as comfy seating is limited.

3. The Festive Season

As some of you know, I am certainly not one of those who find the Festive Season all that “festive” due to deathing my mum from 24th Dec – 1st January in 2008 and literally living in Gosford Hospital for that whole time. I don’t have massive Christmas plans (because I now make space for honouring that journey with my Mum), soif anyone is struggling or just wants to hang out with others who get what a challenge Christmas can be, feel free to make contact. If I am able, I am happy to meet up for coffee, or a child-friendly hangout somewhere. Alternatively, please pick up the phone and reach out to an empathetic friend.

Whatever you do at this time of year, I hope it is full of love and happiness, as well as gentle reflections and acknowledgements of our Loved Ones passed. If you need an excuse for a drink on 1st Jan, feel free to join me and raise a glass of bubbles to my beautiful Mamma who passed at 9.05pm on 1st January 2008.

4. The future of Death Cafe Film Nights

I am yet to chat with Jon Underwood in the UK regarding the title of our film nights. Worse case scenario is that we can no longer call them “Death Cafe” or list them on the Death Cafe website. If this is the case, we’ll just find an alternative title, continue with local publicity, and keep running them as the feedback has clearly indicated that people are loving them!

5. The Groundswell Project

On Tuesday 17th, myself, Karen Adler (film night facilitator) and Megan Pascoe (future Wyong Shire Death Cafe facilitator) met with Kerrie Noonan from The Groundswell Project http://thegroundswellproject.com/ regarding partnerships and future work together. It looks VERY promising and we have agreed to “date for a year” and see what we can achieve! As soon as we have finalised the arrangement we’ll let you know the finer details.

6. ‘deathie’ tee shirts

If you are serious about contributing to social change around death and dying, you may consider donning one of the new ‘deathie’ t-shirts featured http://sacredhunger.com.au/281-2/ it’d be great to see some walking about town!!!! Custom made to order. You know where to find me for orders.

7. Death Cafe Feedback

As you know, we are constantly evaluating each Death Cafe and trying to take on board the feedback you offer. Thanks to all who complete the evaluation forms each month.

One of the on-going issues raised by a couple of people a couple of times is the desire to have more time to just talk about whatever it is they want to talk about, for however long they want to talk about it, in relation to death and dying. My challenge is striking a balance where people feel they get to talk, but that those listening remain engaged; supporting interesting and passionate conversations whilst not allowing the space to become a bereavement support group; and ensuring talk-time is shared evenly among group members.

Do people have any specific suggestions as to how we can create some space for a handful of people to “tell their stories” whilst keeping the rest of the group engaged? I was thinking of doing a session where we break off into pairs and one person talks whilst the other listens (for a set period of time) then we swap over. Thoughts? And alternative suggestions please!!

8. Day of the Dead 2014

It’s time to get a committed working party together for the 2014 Day of the Dead Community Picnic (November 2014). This will be an on-going working party that will help shape the next event, building on this years, whilst looking to the future evolution of the event. If you are interested, please get back to me by return email, including what skills/strengths you feel you will bring to the event, and why you want to get involved. I’ll then be in touch in the New Year. In the event that too many people put their hands up, I’ll have to select based on strengths as it’s important we form a working party encompassing all necessary skills to ensure a successful event again next year. Any overflow peeps may be able to help out with smaller projects relating to the event, overseen by the working party. If that makes sense!!

9. Dying to Know Day 8th August 2014

Similarly if you are keen to get on board with D2KD2014 please get in touch by return email. It’ll be upon us before we know it!

10. Motherless Daughters / Motherless Mothers monthly dinner

Prior to Death Cafe taking over my life (LOL) I used to convene a Motherless Daughters/Motherless Mothers dinner each month, where we got together at Sit O’Clock Thai restaurant in Woy Woy and hung out, often drank bubbles together, shared Mamma tales, often laughed and sometimes cried. I will be getting this up and running again in the New Year and it will become a regular feature on our deathie calendar. Attached is the old flyer. If you are interested in helping out with this (small tasks like emailing occasionally) or interested in attending, please let me know as I’ll start a separate data base for this.

11. Thanks

Thank you all for your involvement in the End of Life / deathie movement here on the Central Coast. It’s been a MASSIVE year for me as I began the task of carving out a path for our local community to bond, grown, explore and expand in relation to death and dying. The first few events were a dipping in of the toe, so to speak, to see if you were all as ready as I was to drive social change around end of life. Clearly you are ready, and for that, please accept my deepest gratitude and appreciation!

One of my deathie goals is to put the Central Coast Community on the map as being a strong, connected, supportive and innovative group of amazing individuals who are prepared to look death in the face and champion social change and expansion of community consciousness around death and dying. So far you have made my job easy!

“Wonderful day….coming together and sharing with each other was very empowering!”

“Sharing stories gives us all a glimpse into how grief is embraced or natural. Thank you all for being here today – it’s a courageous step to take.”

I can safely say that the Central Coast’s inaugural Day of the Dead Community Picnic was a huge success! 35 people gathered, with their special, sacred and precious items that represented their dead Loved Ones, and joined with others beneath the shade of the spectacular Moreton Bay Fig tree, remembering, talking and connecting.

Those present for the Remembrance Picnic ranged from 12 months old to 81 years old, and everything in between! We had 2 dogs and 35 in-the-flesh humans….and no doubt scores of attendees “in spirit”. The feedback has been amazing…and as I get to collate the data, I will certainly share far and wide.

A total of $440.00 was raised…woooohhoooooooo!!!!That means we can buy the following for Death Cafe Central Coast: A special thanks to all our generous community members and businesses who made donations to the raffle. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Digital projector for Death Cafe film nights ($150.00)

A frame sandwich board with printed logo etc inc. black board section where we can write things like “Death Cafe here 17th Nov 2013”. It can then sit outside venues about to host Death Cafes. ($240.00)

The left overs might go towards a coffee machine or future publicity materials….we’ll decide over the next few weeks and we’ll let you all know.

So thank you to everyone who contributed to the day, either by showing up, helping with setting up or running the day, or doing some behind-the-scenes work. It would not have been such an amazing day without your love, time, support and energy.

Bring on Day of the Dead 2014!

Interested in getting more involved next year? Excellent! Please email me at kim@sacredhunger.com.au